Question

[Excluding any test code that just mocks a builtin]

Given that many builtins have been added over time, if there are multiple occurrences, I’d accept an answer showing a module or some code that was created after that builtin existed.

My rationale for asking is that after posting a question on the python mailing list, some of the responses indicated that there are members of the Python community that think its
perfectly reasonable to use variable names that shadow builtins when any other name would work just as well.

I’d like to use the standard library as a gauge to how common this practice is among the various Python developers.

Answer 1

The builtin I most often shadow is id, both because it’s so useful as a variable name, and the builtin is so rarely called anyway. A quick look in the 2.7 standard library turned up a number of uses:

aifc.py:            if id == marker[0]:
aifc.py:                id = _read_short(chunk)
aifc.py:            if id == self._markers[i][0]:
aifc.py:            if id == marker[0]:
difflib.py:            id = ' id="%s%s"' % (self._prefix[side],linenum)
difflib.py:            id = ''
nntplib.py:        id = ''
nntplib.py:                id = words[2]
nntplib.py:        resp, nr, id = self.statparse(resp)
pdb.py:            id = idstring[0].strip()
pdb.py:            id = idstring[1].strip()
pdb.py:        if id == '': return failed
platform.py:                id = values[2]
platform.py:    id = ''
platform.py:            id = l[1]
platform.py:        id = _id

There are plenty of uses of str, list, and int also:

Cookie.py:    str = str[1:-1]
mailcap.py:        str = os.environ['MAILCAPS']
mimetools.py:        str = self.typeheader
mimetools.py:            str = 'text/plain'
mimetools.py:            str = str[:i]
mimetools.py:        str = self.plisttext
mimetools.py:            str = str[1:]
mimetools.py:            str = str[end:]
rfc822.py:  str = m.getheader(name)
rfc822.py:  str = m.getrawheader(name)
smtplib.py:            str = ""
smtplib.py:            str = '%s%s' % (cmd, CRLF)
smtplib.py:            str = '%s %s%s' % (cmd, args, CRLF)
sre_parse.py:    pattern.str = str
xmllib.py:            str = res.group(1)
xmllib.py:                    str = chr(int(str[2:], 16))
xmllib.py:                    str = chr(int(str[1:]))
xmllib.py:                    str = self.entitydefs[str]
xmllib.py:                    str = '&' + str + ';'

uuid.py:            int = long(hex, 16)
uuid.py:            int = long(('%02x'*16) % tuple(map(ord, bytes)), 16)
uuid.py:            int = ((time_low << 96L) | (time_mid << 80L) |

SimpleHTTPServer.py:            list = os.listdir(path)
StringIO.py:list = f.readlines()# list of f.readline() results until EOF
StringIO.py:    list = f.readlines()
anydbm.py:        list = d.keys() # return a list of all existing keys (slow!)
asynchat.py:            self.list = deque()
asynchat.py:            self.list = deque(list)
bdb.py:        list = self.breaks[filename]
cgi.py:    list = None
cgi.py:    list = traceback.format_tb(tb, limit) + \
code.py:        list = traceback.format_exception_only(type, value)
code.py:            list = traceback.format_list(tblist)
dircache.py:        cached_mtime, list = cache[path]
dircache.py:        cached_mtime, list = -1, []
dircache.py:        list = os.listdir(path)
mailbox.py:        # list = map(long, filter(pat.match, os.listdir(self.dirname)))
mailbox.py:        list = os.listdir(self.dirname)
mailbox.py:        list = filter(pat.match, list)
mailbox.py:        list = map(long, list)
mhlib.py:list = mh.listfolders() # names of top-level folders
mhlib.py:list = mh.listallfolders() # names of all folders, including subfolders
mhlib.py:list = mh.listsubfolders(name) # direct subfolders of given folder
mhlib.py:list = mh.listallsubfolders(name) # all subfolders of given folder
mhlib.py:list = f.listmessages() # list of messages in folder (as numbers)
mhlib.py:list = f.parsesequence(seq)     # parse msgs syntax into list of messages
mhlib.py:            list = []
mhlib.py:        list = map(int, stuff.split())
multifile.py:        list = []
nntplib.py:            list = []
nntplib.py:        resp, list = self.longcmd('LIST', file)
nntplib.py:        resp, list = self.longcmd(line, file)
pickle.py:        list = stack[-1]
pickle.py:        list = stack[mark - 1]
pipes.py:    list = []
poplib.py:        list = []; octets = 0
pstats.py:        width, list = self.get_print_list(amount)
pstats.py:        width, list = self.get_print_list(amount)
pstats.py:        width, list = self.get_print_list(amount)
rexec.py:        list = []
rfc822.py:  list = m.getaddrlist(name)
shelve.py:        list = d.keys() # a list of all existing keys (slow!)
socket.py:        list = []
telnetlib.py:        list = list[:]
traceback.py:    list = []
traceback.py:    list = []
traceback.py:        list = ['Traceback (most recent call last):\n']
traceback.py:        list = list + format_tb(tb, limit)
traceback.py:        list = []
traceback.py:    list = list + format_exception_only(etype, value)
traceback.py:    list = []
xdrlib.py:        list = []
xdrlib.py:        list = []

and there are too many file and dir uses to post…